Letters to the Editor Sept. 22, 2011

Christian woman supports her LBGT brothers and sisters

Regarding the Sept 17 letter about SB48, “Time to stand up against requiring teaching about gays in history,” first, it is putting down our LGBT (Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered) community (and yes we do have many here in Del Norte). It reads in one line, “I don’t mean to offend” and then in another line starts talking about “the diseases.”

What diseases? Does the LGBT community carry different diseases? Do we revert back to 1950s and build them separate bathrooms and so on? Those “diseases” can happen to anyone who is sexually promiscuous. Anyone can catch HIV/AIDS, not just from being homosexual.

I feel that those complaining about SB48 have not really read the bill itself. In a nutshell:

The Fair, Accurate, Inclusive and Respectful (FAIR) Education Act
would amend the Education Code to include social sciences instruction on
the contributions of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT)
people to our history. This bill would also prohibit discriminatory
instruction and discriminatory materials from being adopted by the State
Board of Education.

There is nothing in the bill that says they are teaching how to
become one or teaching it as a way of life, just that we have American
LGBT persons who have done amazing things in our history. Now they don’t
have to live in the history closet.

In my personal opinion this bill will lead to the understanding of
how LGBT people are normal people doing normal things. It may cut down
on bullying and help with understanding and diversity.

We are all sick of seeing gay hate crimes in the news so we need to
teach acceptance, tolerance, and diversity in public schools. I think
it’s great that my children will be offered a broader glimpse into the
history of the world around them and that the pioneers and prophets who
happened to be LGBT will be part of the richer story of the world that
is told.

I am a Christian and I support my LGBT brothers and sisters.

I do agree with that letter writer when she mentioned
home-schooling. If you can’t deal with the world as it is today then
home school your children, that is the only way you can be in full
control as to what they learn.

I think our teachers here are doing an amazing job in our public
schools and will use this bill as it is intended.